Emergency Management

2024-03-15 20:24:49
by Tom Ramstack
Senate Told Growing Wildfire Threat Needs New Strategies

WASHINGTON — The number of wildfires driven by climate change has grown but the U.S. effort to control them has... Read More

WASHINGTON — The number of wildfires driven by climate change has grown but the U.S. effort to control them has not, according to emergency response officials at a Senate hearing Thursday. At least not fast enough to prevent disasters like... Read More

Born After Superstorm Sandy's Destruction, Two Flood Control Projects Begin in NJ

HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) — A decade after they were first envisioned in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy ’s destruction, two of the... Read More

HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) — A decade after they were first envisioned in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy ’s destruction, two of the largest flood control projects designed to protect the densely populated cities of New Jersey that lie just outside New York... Read More

2023-10-23 19:22:41
by Dan McCue
AI Seen as Key to Planning Climate Change-Related Hazard Mitigation

PASADENA, Calif. — As demand for more detailed assessment of climate risks grows, a team of scientists from around the... Read More

PASADENA, Calif. — As demand for more detailed assessment of climate risks grows, a team of scientists from around the globe argue for utilizing artificial intelligence to greatly improve the climate simulations that form the basis of hazard mitigation plans.... Read More

2023-10-03 20:43:48
by Dan McCue
Nationwide Emergency Alert Test Planned for Wednesday

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency and Wireless Emergency Alert systems on Wednesday afternoon. The agencies said the test will begin at about 2:20... Read More

Kentucky Governor's Efforts to Help Storm-Ravaged Towns May Dilute GOP Advantage in Rural Areas

MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) — Gina Thorn's life was uprooted when a monstrous tornado tore through her Kentucky hometown of Mayfield,... Read More

MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) — Gina Thorn's life was uprooted when a monstrous tornado tore through her Kentucky hometown of Mayfield, but her family stuck it out and now they're homeowners for the first time. Thorn says Gov. Andy Beshear deserves... Read More

2023-08-07 19:23:15
by Dan McCue
Federal Workers Ordered to Leave Offices as Severe Weather Approaches DC

WASHINGTON — The Office of Personnel Management has ordered all federal employees to leave their offices by 3 p.m. ahead... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Office of Personnel Management has ordered all federal employees to leave their offices by 3 p.m. ahead of possibly severe storms expected to move through the District of Columbia and surrounding area Monday afternoon and evening. According... Read More

2023-05-30 19:40:48
by Dan McCue
Atlantic Hurricane Season Starts This Thursday

MIAMI — The Atlantic hurricane season officially starts this coming Thursday, with forecasters from the Climate Prediction Center expecting a... Read More

MIAMI — The Atlantic hurricane season officially starts this coming Thursday, with forecasters from the Climate Prediction Center expecting a “near-normal” season with 12-17 named storms likely, of which as many as four could be major, catastrophic storms. But the... Read More

2023-05-04 20:51:17
by Dan McCue
GAO Report Outlines Chronic Staff Shortages at FEMA

WASHINGTON — With the start of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season just weeks away, a new report from the Government... Read More

WASHINGTON — With the start of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season just weeks away, a new report from the Government Accountability Office suggests the Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to suffer from chronic staff shortages that are leading to burnout... Read More

2023-03-08 17:38:05
by Dan McCue
Firefighters Rally at Capitol for PFAS-Free Gear

WASHINGTON — Firefighters from across the nation gathered for a rally at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday to urge Congress to... Read More

WASHINGTON — Firefighters from across the nation gathered for a rally at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday to urge Congress to fund the research and development of PFAS-free protective gear and fire extinguishing equipment. “We need to get these toxic carcinogens... Read More

2023-01-11 20:46:58
by Dan McCue
2022’s 18 Natural Disasters Cost the US a Total $165B, Report Says

WASHINGTON — Devastating hurricanes, deadly flooding and prolonged record-setting drought in much of the U.S. were just a few of... Read More

WASHINGTON — Devastating hurricanes, deadly flooding and prolonged record-setting drought in much of the U.S. were just a few of the 18 natural disasters that cost taxpayers roughly $165 billion last year, according to a new federal report. The sobering... Read More

2022-10-21 15:31:32
by Dan McCue
Bipartisan PAW Act to Protect Animals Impacted by Disaster, Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Planning for Animal Wellness Act into law this week, garnering praise from... Read More

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Planning for Animal Wellness Act into law this week, garnering praise from animal rights advocates who’ve argued for years that federal guidance on best practices to protect animals in emergencies and disasters... Read More

2022-10-01 18:49:53
by Dan McCue
Election Uncertainty Abounds as Florida Cleans Up From Hurricane Ian’s Fury

TALLAHASSEE — Hurricane Ian’s march through Florida and the Caribbean left at least 35 people dead in the Sunshine State,... Read More

TALLAHASSEE — Hurricane Ian’s march through Florida and the Caribbean left at least 35 people dead in the Sunshine State, along with another three in Cuba, and caused anywhere from $66 billion to $75 billion in damage, depending on the... Read More

2022-09-29 20:34:08
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Updates Emergency Alert System

WASHINGTON — As Hurricane Ian raged through Florida Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to make the emergency alerts... Read More

WASHINGTON — As Hurricane Ian raged through Florida Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to make the emergency alerts seen and heard on television, radio and through text messages easier to understand. “Climate change is making storms more frequent,... Read More

2022-09-27 19:28:56
by Dan McCue
Army Corps Proposes $52B ‘Sea Gate’ Plan to Protect New York From Storm Surge

NEW YORK — As a major hurricane bears down on Florida, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is floating a... Read More

NEW YORK — As a major hurricane bears down on Florida, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is floating a $52 billion proposal to protect New York City and surrounding communities from the destructive storm surges associated with hurricanes and... Read More

2022-06-10 17:38:29
by Tom Ramstack
California Utility Pleads Not Guilty to Manslaughter in Deadly Wildfire

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pacific Gas & Electric pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony involuntary manslaughter charges after a Northern California... Read More

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pacific Gas & Electric pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony involuntary manslaughter charges after a Northern California fire caused by its electrical transmission lines burned 87 square miles of land and killed four residents. Prosecutors acknowledge criminal... Read More

2022-06-09 17:07:15
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Plans to Address 911 Location Issues

WASHINGTON — North Carolina is in the process of implementing its newest 911 technology that will connect callers to emergency... Read More

WASHINGTON — North Carolina is in the process of implementing its newest 911 technology that will connect callers to emergency call centers “almost immediately — when a caller takes their finger off the last one it is ringing,” said L.V.... Read More

2022-06-08 23:14:02
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Levies Largest Fine to Amateur Radio Operator

WASHINGTON — While firefighters were battling a blaze near Elk River, Idaho, in 2021 an unknown voice came over the... Read More

WASHINGTON — While firefighters were battling a blaze near Elk River, Idaho, in 2021 an unknown voice came over the radio waves they were using to coordinate an airplane to help fight the fire. The U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement... Read More

2022-05-10 21:13:08
by Dan McCue
Looking Ahead to Hurricane Season …

MIAMI — It happens every year, yet it never ceases to grab our attention, disrupt our sleep and on occasion... Read More

MIAMI — It happens every year, yet it never ceases to grab our attention, disrupt our sleep and on occasion even terrify. We’re talking, of course, about the Atlantic hurricane season, the period extending from June 1 to Nov. 30... Read More

2022-01-19 20:19:49
by Tom Ramstack
The Pandemic’s Natural Disaster Makes Congress Seek a Better Fix

WASHINGTON — As public health officials warned this week the U.S. COVID-19 death toll could reach 1 million by this... Read More

WASHINGTON — As public health officials warned this week the U.S. COVID-19 death toll could reach 1 million by this spring, a congressional panel on Wednesday considered what it would take to ensure it never happens again. Rep. Joseph Morelle,... Read More

Volcano Erupts in Pacific, West Coast Under Tsunami Advisory

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — An undersea volcano erupted in spectacular fashion Saturday near the Pacific nation of Tonga, sending... Read More

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — An undersea volcano erupted in spectacular fashion Saturday near the Pacific nation of Tonga, sending large tsunami waves crashing across the shore and people rushing to higher ground. A tsunami advisory was in effect for... Read More

2021-10-27 23:04:01
by Tom Ramstack
Lawmakers Decry ‘Inequities’ in Disaster Relief Assistance

WASHINGTON — Emergency management officials who testified to Congress Wednesday described U.S. policies on disaster relief as long on inspiration... Read More

WASHINGTON — Emergency management officials who testified to Congress Wednesday described U.S. policies on disaster relief as long on inspiration but short on administration. In other words, communities devastated by hurricanes, wildfires, floods or tornadoes receive disaster relief but in... Read More

2021-09-23 15:58:41
by Reece Nations
Louisiana Gov. Edwards Requesting Federal Aid in Wake of Severe Weather

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to request federal assistance in... Read More

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to request federal assistance in recovery efforts for portions of the state that have been devastated by natural disasters over the past year. Edwards met... Read More

2021-09-02 20:29:33
by Daniel Mollenkamp
Experts Weigh Policy Options For Increasingly Costly Wildfires

Wildfires are an increasingly big and increasingly costly reality.  The "severity and overall size" of wildfires has expanded considerably in... Read More

Wildfires are an increasingly big and increasingly costly reality.  The "severity and overall size" of wildfires has expanded considerably in recent decades, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. California's 2018 fire season, in particular, broke several dubious records, including... Read More

2021-08-31 13:03:37
by Tom Ramstack
Biden Pledges Hurricane Recovery But Can’t Give a Timeline

WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden tried to sound reassuring Monday afternoon but could not guarantee a quick recovery from the... Read More

WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden tried to sound reassuring Monday afternoon but could not guarantee a quick recovery from the devastation Hurricane Ida caused to southeastern Louisiana. “We’re going to stand with you and the people of the Gulf for... Read More

2021-08-17 18:10:37
by Daniel Mollenkamp
USAID Sends Search and Rescue Teams to Assist With Haitian Quake Response

In the wake of a powerful earthquake, the U.S. has sent rescue personnel and air support to assist with the... Read More

In the wake of a powerful earthquake, the U.S. has sent rescue personnel and air support to assist with the search and rescue efforts in Haiti. On Sunday, the U.S. Agency for International Development said it had sent a 65-member... Read More

2021-08-13 13:16:13
by Victoria Turner
First Responders Want High Tech But Lack Funding

An in-depth study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology based on interviews and surveys of first responders -... Read More

An in-depth study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology based on interviews and surveys of first responders - Communications Center Services (911 call centers), Emergency Medical Services, Fire Services and Law Enforcement - show they want new technology,... Read More

2021-08-12 19:03:21
by Reece Nations
Dixie Fire May Have Been Sparked by Power Lines

GREENVILLE, Calif. — Northern California’s extensive Dixie Fire has enveloped over 510,000 acres across four counties as crews work tirelessly... Read More

GREENVILLE, Calif. — Northern California’s extensive Dixie Fire has enveloped over 510,000 acres across four counties as crews work tirelessly to contain the nation’s largest active wildfire. Smoke and ash from various wildfires are causing poor air quality conditions around... Read More

2021-07-23 12:40:07
by Ansley Puckett
Preparing Animals for Natural Disasters

Hurricane season is underway and climate experts warn of increasingly severe and frequent storms. Animal advocacy groups are reminding the... Read More

Hurricane season is underway and climate experts warn of increasingly severe and frequent storms. Animal advocacy groups are reminding the public and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect animals during natural disasters.  Often left out of disaster planning and... Read More

2021-06-23 21:38:44
by Tom Ramstack
President to Meet with Governors to Prepare for Natural Disasters

WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden announced Tuesday he would meet with state governors next week to map out a strategy... Read More

WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden announced Tuesday he would meet with state governors next week to map out a strategy for handling disasters from severe weather. Heat and drought in western states is creating wildfires and crop damage. The National... Read More

2021-04-27 13:07:36
by Kate Michael
Disaster Recovery Agents Push to Codify HUD Recovery Grant Program

WASHINGTON — First used in 1993, HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Recovery Program enhances the agency’s already flexible grants that... Read More

WASHINGTON — First used in 1993, HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Recovery Program enhances the agency’s already flexible grants that help cities, counties, and states recover from presidentially declared disasters. These special recovery grants supplement disaster programs of the Federal... Read More

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